WHO CONTROLS YOUR BEHAVIOR?
Do you believe your behavior is under your control or is it controlled by external factors, factors outside of your control?
If you believe your moods and behavior are determined by yourself and are under your own control then you have an ‘internal locus of control’.
If you believe that your life is determined by external factors outside of your control then you have an ‘external locus of control’.
External locus of control
Do you live your life to please others? If so, then you are giving others control over your life. Do you battle to say ‘no’?
Do you find yourself falling into a ‘victim’ mentality, blaming others for your circumstance?
Do you frequently use the words ‘if only …’?
- ‘If only my parents didn’t get divorced, my life would have been better.
- If only my partner were nicer to me, my life would be okay….. ‘
Do you minimize your achievements?
- if you get a promotion at work, how do you explain it. Do you give yourself credit for your hard work (internal locus of control) or do you explain your promotion as ‘good luck’? Or maybe you explain away your promotion by saying that the boss had no choice, considering the length of time you’ve been with the company (external locus of control). Minimizing one’s achievements is a common trait among people with an external locus of control.
Internal locus of control
People with an internal locus of control tend to be less influenced by others. They are also generally more motivated to achieve. An internal locus of control leads to a greater sense of autonomy and greater happiness.
I hope you enjoy this poem called ‘Do it anyway’. Do what is right (internal locus of control) rather than be controlled by what other people might do to you (external locus of control).
DO IT ANYWAY (Author and Source unknown)
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for the underdog anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you’ve got and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
